MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Southern Arkansas University Athletic Department has announced its 2016 Hall of Fame induction class. This year's class will be formally inducted during a private ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, September 30 in Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center on the campus of SAU. A public induction will be held at halftime of the October 1 football game against Southern Nazarene.
 
The 2016 Southern Arkansas University Sports Hall of Fame class is comprised of nine former SAU student-athlete standouts as well as one coach.
 
Among those inductees are the following:
 
James Armstrong | Men's Basketball (Golden Era)

 
The late James Armstrong was a four-year letterman for the Mulerider basketball team from 1969-70 to 1972-73. During that time, Armstrong helped lead the Muleriders to an impressive 80-27 (.748) overall record under legendary head coach W.T. Watson.
 
As a sophomore in 1970-71, Armstrong and the Muleriders captured the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) Championship after a 17-3 mark in league play. The Muleriders would go on to finish that year 23-5 as they also captured the NAIA District 17 Tournament Championship as well and earned a berth into the NAIA National Tournament.
 
Armstrong's final two seasons at SAU (then Southern State College) were his best as he averaged a double-double each year. An All-AIC Honorable Mention selection as a junior, Armstrong would reel in accolades as a senior in 1972-73 as he led the team in scoring, averaging 16.4 points per game. His performance as a senior earned Armstrong All-AIC honors as well as NAIA All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
 
For his career, Armstrong totaled 865 points and is currently 36^th on the SAU all-time scoring list.
 
After his playing days, Armstrong became a coach at the high school and collegiate levels in the state of Arkansas. In addition to his coaching, Armstrong also became a basketball official and he would work games at seemingly every level from middle school to NCAA Division I.
 
A well-respected basketball official, Armstrong was inducted into the Arkansas Officials Association Hall of Fame in 2004.
 
Bobby Beeson | Baseball (Modern Era)

 
Bobby Beeson was a sensational two-way player for the Mulerider baseball team as he starred on the mound and at the plate from 2002-2004. After his junior season, Beeson was drafted in the 10^th round of the 2004 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals. Beeson's selection is the fourth-highest by a Mulerider all-time.
 
As a freshman in 2002, Beeson saw more time at the plate then he did on the mound as he threw just 21.2 innings that year, but logged 182 at-bats. Despite the low inning count, Beeson recorded a 3-1 record. As a hitter, Beeson showed that he was going to be a force at the plate as he hit .363 (66-for-182) with 16 doubles, 10 homeruns, and 59 RBIs. His offensive numbers earned Beeson All-Gulf South Conference (GSC) West First-Team honors at first base.
 
As a sophomore, Beeson began to excel on the mound as he went 7-1 in 12 appearances (eight starts) en route to being named to the All-GSC West Second-Team as a pitcher.
 
Beeson's junior year is when his pitching and hitting abilities showed through at a very high level.
 
That year, Beeson hit .399 (75-for-188) with 16 doubles, 11 homeruns, and 74 RBIs while also going 11-3 on the mound with a career-best 2.75 ERA across 104.2 innings. Those eye-popping numbers on both sides resulted in Beeson being named the GSC West Division Player of the Year as well as an All-GSC West First-Team selection at first base and as a pitcher. Additionally, Beeson went on to be awarded the prestigious GSC Commissioner's Trophy in 2004
 
For his career, Beeson holds the record for Putouts (990) and ranks among the top in RBIs (165), Doubles (40), and Pitching Wins (21). Beeson also went on to make the GSC West Division All-Decade Team (2000s) for both positions as he was a first-team selection at first base and a second-team choice as a starting pitcher.
 
Currently, Beeson is the head baseball coach at Magnolia High School. This past season, his third as head coach at Magnolia, Beeson guided the Panthers to the Arkansas Class 5A State Championship.
 
Sam Biley | Men's Basketball (Golden Era – Player) – Meritorious Service (Men's and Women's Basketball)
 

Sam Biley has been associated with SAU in some capacity since 1973 when he began his collegiate basketball playing days.
 
As a player, Biley was a four-year letter-winner and three-time All-AIC honoree, receiving first-team plaudits in his junior and senior seasons. Averaging double figures over his final three years, Biley currently ranks 19^th on SAU's all-time scoring list with 1,146 career points. Over the course of his four year playing career, Biley helped lead the Muleriders to a 79-30 overall record and SAU did not finish lower than second in the AIC each year either.
 
When he was done playing basketball for the Muleriders, Biley quickly turned to the coaching side of the game and served as a graduate assistant and then began a 15-year tenure as an assistant men's basketball coach under 2006 SAU Hall of Fame inductee, Monroe Ingram.
 
In his time as an assistant coach, Biley helped lead the Muleriders to 12 winning seasons and in 1989-90, SAU captured the AIC Championship.
 
In 1995-96, Biley took over the reins of the women's basketball program and he would go on to be the head coach of the Lady Muleriders for 15 years as well.
 
Totaling 143 wins as a head coach, Biley was named as the GSC West Division Coach of the Year in 2003-04. That year, Biley doubled the previous year's win total and posted a record for wins in the NCAA Division II era for the Lady Muleriders as they won 16 games. Additionally, the Lady Muleriders qualified for the GSC Tournament for the first time and it was the first of four-straight appearances.
 
The following year, Biley and the Lady Muleriders would set a new NCAA wins standard as they won 18 games. At that GSC Tournament, SAU won their quarterfinal game and advanced to the semi-finals. Biley and the Lady Muleriders would match that feat in 2006-07.
 
Over the course of his 30-year coaching career at SAU, Biley has been a part of over 370 wins.
 
Following his retirement from coaching after the 2009-10 season, Biley has remained a fixture around SAU. He is currently the assistant director of the Mulerider Activities Center (MAC) and also is integral in game day management for all of SAU's home events as he serves as the host to the officials for each sport.
  
Bill Burson | Men's Basketball (Golden Era)

 
Bill Burson played basketball at SAU (then Southern State College) for three years under inaugural SAU Hall of Fame inductee, W.T. Watson from 1964-65 to 1966-67. After sitting out a season due to transfer rules, Burson hit the court for the Muleriders for the first time in 1964-65. That year, Burson would average nearly 10 points per game and the Muleriders would post a 10-15 record.
 
The following two seasons, however, with Burson serving as the floor general at point guard, the Muleriders would enjoy some of the greatest success in program history as SAU captured back-to-back AIC Championships.
 
Over those two seasons, the Muleriders would go 48-9 (.842) and each year culminated in the NAIA National Tournament. After claiming the District 17 Championship in 1965-66 and 1966-67, the Muleriders earned a berth into the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City. Each year, the Muleriders would also win their opening game before seeing their season end in the second round.
 
For his career, Burson would score 909 points, which currently ranks him 32^nd on SAU's all-time scoring list. In terms of individual accolades, Burson was an All-AIC First-Team selection in 1965-66 and was a second-team honoree in his senior season of 1966-67.
 
Glenn Davis | Football (Modern Era)

 
Glenn Davis was a four-year starting linebacker for the Mulerider football team from 1984-88. A native of Magnolia, Davis stayed at home for his collegiate playing days and turned in a record-setting career over his time at SAU as he still holds five major defensive records (three career and two single-season).
 
All five of Davis' records are related to tackles as he holds the single-season and career records for solo tackles (298 career, 104 season) and total tackles (482 career, 160 season). Additionally, Davis holds the record at SAU for assisted tackles (184).
 
Three times in his career, Davis registered over 100 total tackles with his record 160 stops coming in his junior season of 1987. Davis also totaled 17.0 tackles for loss, recovered six fumbles and intercepted five passes in his career.
 
Davis was a four-time All-AIC honoree with first-team plaudits in 1988.
 
Sylvester Dunbar | Football (Golden Era)
 

Sylvester Dunbar was a center on the offensive line for the Mulerider football team during the early 1980s. A native of Little Rock, Dunbar came to SAU from Little Rock Central High School where he was an all-state lineman for the Tigers.
 
At SAU, Dunbar helped lead the Muleriders to a .500 or better winning percentage each season with a top 7-3 record coming during his sophomore season in 1981.
 
While offensive linemen do not have statistics officially recorded, Dunbar's impact on a given game was evident in the individual accolades he would earn. A majority of those accolades poured in for Dunbar as a junior and senior as he was an All-AIC First-Team selection each year.
 
In his junior season of 1982, Dunbar was unanimously named All-AIC. As a senior, Dunbar added All-District 17 and honorable mention All-America honors as well.
 
Shirley Earley | Volleyball (Golden Era)
 

Shirley Earley played volleyball at Southern Arkansas during the early 1980s under 2008 SAU Hall of Fame inductee, Dr. Ginger Hurst.
 
Earley, a native of Magnolia, was an outside and middle hitter for the Lady Muleriders and is credited with playing an integral role in developing the winning tradition that became SAU volleyball under Dr. Hurst through the 1980s.
 
A three-time All-Arkansas Women's Intercollegiate Sports Association (AWSIA) honoree, Earley also was named as an All-District 17 player in her senior season of 1982. That year was also the best in terms of team accomplishments during Earley's playing days as the Lady Muleriders went unblemished in AWISA play (14-0) to capture the program's first championship.
 
Following a 19-4 regular season, Earley and the Lady Muleriders captured the District 17 Championship and advanced to the Bi-District playoff for a chance at making it to the NAIA National Tournament after beating John Brown University and Henderson State. SAU fell to Missouri Western in that Bi-District playoff, but the groundwork that was helped in laying down by Earley was set for the coming years of SAU volleyball.
 
Following her volleyball playing days, Earley became an academic administrator and is currently serving as the Director of Administrative Services for the Raytown School District in Raytown, Mo., a suburb of Kansas City, Mo. Earley has been in that position since 1990.
 
Lauren Frazier | Softball (Modern Era)

 
Lauren Frazier was a four-year starting third baseman for the Lady Mulerider softball team from 2002-2005.
 
In her time at SAU, Frazier turned in one of the top offensive careers in program history as she currently holds three offensive records (two career, one game) and was a record-holder for three more marks (all single-season). Additionally, Frazier ranks in the top-10 in five career offensive categories and is in the top-5 in four single-season categories.
 
A steadily improving player throughout her career, Frazier was a four-time All-GSC West honoree; twice being named to the first-team. Additionally, Frazier was named as an All-South Region selection as well as being tabbed to the GSC West Division All-Decade (2000s) First-Team at third base.
 
A speedster on the base paths, Frazier currently holds the SAU career record for stolen bases (96) and runs scored (140). In three of her four seasons, Frazier stole 20 or more bases with a career-best 31 steals in 2003.
 
In her senior season, Frazier put together her best offensive numbers as she hit .380 (78-for-205) with 47 runs scored, six doubles, two triples, one homerun, and 17 RBIs. Her hits, at-bats, and runs scored that year were single-season records at SAU.
 
Tracy Geffre | Baseball (Modern Era)
 

Tracy Geffre played two offensively-charged seasons for the Muleriders from 2002-2003 after transferring into the program from the junior college ranks.
 
In his first season, Geffre exploded on to the scene with a .444 (83-for-187) batting average, which was bolstered by 17 doubles, four triples, 14 homeruns, 51 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .802. That year, Geffre earned All-Gulf South Conference and Rawlings/ABCA All-Region Second-Team honors.
 
A year later, as a senior, Geffre became SAU's first NCAA All-America First-Team selection as he was lauded by Rawlings/ABCA at the Designated Hitter position. Additionally, Geffre was named an all-region first-team selection by Rawlings/ABCA as well as being tabbed as the Player of the Year and a first-team DH in the GSC West.
 
Statistically that year, Geffre remained a potent bat in the Mulerider order as he hit .385 (72-for-187) with 16 doubles, 18 homeruns, 50 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .759. His 18 homeruns at the time were the second-most hit in a single season at SAU.
 
For his career, Geffre hit .414 (155-for-374) with 33 doubles, 32 homeruns, 101 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .781. Geffre's career mark on SAU and the GSC was further honored by the GSC as he was named to the GSC West Division All-Decade (2000s) First-Team as a designated hitter.
 
Currently, Geffre ranks near the top of the all-time list at SAU in batting average, slugging percentage, and homeruns.
 
Steve Roberts | Football (Coach)
 

Steve Roberts was the head coach of the Mulerider football team from 1994-1999. In his six seasons at the helm, Roberts went 35-24-1 overall.
 
In his first year, Roberts' Muleriders went 1-7-1. The following year, in 1995, SAU made the jump to NCAA Division II and were members of the Gulf South Conference; a league that boasted perennial national powers in North Alabama and Valdosta State.
 
In 1995, SAU went 4-6 overall, but were 1-6 in the vaunted GSC. A year later, the Muleriders picked up an additional GSC win, but matched their previous 4-6 overall record.
 
Through the first three years at the helm, Roberts and the Muleriders were just 9-19-1 (.328).
 
Year four under Roberts, however, began a three-year stretch of success that had not been seen at SAU since 1971-73 when legendary head coach Raymond "Rip" Powell guided the Muleriders to a 25-6 (.806) overall record during that time. Roberts' three-year stretch from 1997-99 saw the Muleriders go 26-5 (.839).
 
In his fourth season in 1997, Roberts guided the Muleriders to a 9-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the GSC which resulted in SAU claiming a share of the GSC Championship that year. It was SAU's first conference title since Coach Powell's 1972 squad shared the AIC Championship.
 
The GSC title and an impressive 9-1 regular season record propelled SAU to their first-ever NCAA DII playoff game against Albany State (Ga.). A 10-0 loss to the Rams ended the 1997 season, but Roberts and the Muleriders would go on to enjoy two more very successful seasons.
 
In 1998, Roberts and the Muleriders went 8-2 and fell one game back of another conference title as their losses came to Delta State and West Georgia. Delta and West Georgia would share that year's GSC Championship with matching 8-1 conference records. Additionally, SAU losses to DSU and UWG were by a combined five points.
 
The following season, Roberts' last at SAU, he and the Muleriders went into the final week of the season with a chance to outright win the GSC, but Arkansas Tech, who was playing for the same acclaim, edged the Muleriders by a field goal in overtime.
 
Roberts went on to coach 11 more years in college football at the Division I-level with stops at Northwestern State (La.) and Arkansas State. Roberts is currently the Athletic Director at Cabot High School and in 2015, he was named by the Arkansas High School Athletic Administrator's Association as the 2014-15 Athletic Director of the Year.